Magnetic circuit device for a contactless switch or the like

ABSTRACT

A magnetic circuit comprises a cylindrical disk permanent magnet having oppositely polarized end surfaces and a keeper of soft magnetic material. The permanent magnet has an axial aperture which is cylindrical. The keeper comprises a disk portion which bears on one end surface of the permanent magnet and a cylindrical pin which occupies the aperture of the magnet. The pin terminates in a flat surface which is substantially co-planar with the second opposite surface of the disk magnet. The magnetic circuit provides a high intensity localized magnetic field having field reversal properties for switching magnetic sensor devices such as a Hall effect cell.

United States Patent [1 1 Sulich et al.

[ MAGNETIC CIRCUIT DEVICE FOR A CONTACTLESS SWITCH OR THE LIKE [75] Inventors: Michael Sulich, Endicott; Albert W.

Vinal, Owego, both of NY.

[73] Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation, Armonk, NY.

[22] Filed: May 4,1973

[21] Appl. No.: 357,284

Related U.S. Application Data [62] Division of Ser. No. 263,832, June 19, 1972,

[ Dec. 31, 1974 OTHER PUBLICATIONS McDowell et al., IBM Technical Disclosure Bulletin, Magnets Resistive Contact-Less Switch Vol. 12, No. 3, Aug. 1969, pp. 436-437. Dr Phil Hermann Fahlenbrach et al., German App. No. 1127509 Pub. 4/62.

Primary Examiner-C. L. Albritton Attorney, Agent, or FirmJohn S. Gasper [57] ABSTRACT abandoned A magnetic circuit comprises a cylindrical disk permanent magnet having oppositely polarized end surfaces [52] Us Cl 338/32 H 323/94 H 335/205 and a keeper of soft magnetic material. The perma- 335/215 338/32 nent magnet has an axial aperture which is cylindrical. [51] Int Cl h 7/16 The keeper comprises a disk portion which bears on [58] Fieid 335/2 one end surface of the permanent magnet and a cylin- 324/45 A 323/94 f drical pin which occupies the aperture of the magnet. 340/365 The pin terminates in a flat surface which is substantially co-planar with the second opposite surface of [56] References Cited the disk magnet. The magnetic circuit provides a high intensity localized magnetic field having field reversal UNITED STATES PATENTS properties for switching magnetic sensor devices such MOCl as a effect cell I 3,657,686 4/1972 Masuda et al. 338/32 H 3,673,537 6/1972 Greger 338/32 R 2 Claims, 7 Drawmg Flgures l I l L 15 i l i I 3 1' H 1 1| I, I I n 1 1 1 l H-l- 22 12 Ii sum 2 0r 3 Z 42 5 +08 .ZDINCHES 5 E O 1 I I l 2 45 .10 INCHES Q 050000053 LE 08 45 .0009 0 INCHES ALTITUDE ABOVE APTURE-DISTANCE IN INCHES FIG. 6

Pmmenn c 1 IBM 3.858.145

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MAGNETIC CIRCUIT DEVICE FOR A CONTACTLESS SWITCH OR THE LIKE This is a division, of application Ser. No. 263,832 filed June 19, 1972 now abandoned.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention This invention relates to magnetic circuits and particularly to a magnetic circuit useful as an activator element for a Hall sensor or the like. While not necessarily limited thereto, this invention is contemplated for use with a contactless key mechanism which uses a solid state switch employing Hall effect phenomena.

2. Description of Prior Art Keyboards having contactless switches are wellknown in the art. Such devices basically comprise a magnetic field sensing element and a magnetic activator designed to be moved relative to each other to induce a signal in the sensor element. One such contactless switch configuration utilizing the Hall effect, is shown in US. Pat. No. 3,596,l 14. As illustrated there, the magnetic activator comprises two spaced bar magnets with a U-shaped magnetic bridge element. The sensor element is mounted vertically between the bar magnets. Displacement of the magnetic activator with the bar magnets on the opposite sides of the Hall effect sensor produces a magnetic field intensity change, which in turn causes a Hall effect signal to be generated in the sensor element and its associated circuits.

Such a structural arrangement requires a relatively large amount of space. Thus, in a keyboard application where a multiplicity of keys are to be used, such structure could produce a space design problem. Also, registration and alignment of the sensor element vis a vis the magnets may be critical. In the above-mentioned patent the keys must be individually tuned to set the null position of the Hall device. Also, the vertical mounting of the sensor element is not compatible with planar integrated circuit packaging technology.

It is preferable that the magnetic activator be located onone side of the sensor element which can then be an integral part of a planar semiconductor chip. Magnetic activators of the prior art however, do not lend themselves to such an arrangement largely due to the fact that permanent magnet circuits have been inadequate to provide switching field intensities high enough to generate the necessary signals for switching the sensor element such as the Hall effect sensor. In addition, in keyboard applications, certain constraints are imposed on magnet size and available mechanical displacement of a key-operated activator. Thus, a permanent magnet activator satisfactory for solid state switching where the activator is located above or to one side of the sense element must be capable of a very high rate of change in field intensity over a relatively small range of displacement.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is therefore an object of this invention to provide an improved magnetic circuit which is able to overcome the disadvantages of the prior art and achieve the objectives stated above.

It is also an object of this invention to provide a magnetic activator for a contactless switch mechanism for a keyboard input device.

It is a specific object of this invention to provide an improved magnetic activator for Hall effect switch sensing.

It is a further specific object of this invention to provide an improved magnetic activator capable of switching sensor elements such as Hall effect cells which are compatible with planar integrated circuit technology.

The above, as well as other objects of this invention, are realized using a magnetic circuit in combination with a magnetic field sensitive sensor device in which the magnetic circuit comprises a permanent magnet having a high intensity localized magnetic field directed from a surface of the magnet. The sensor device is subjected to field intensity variations of this localized field. In the preferred form of this invention the switching magnet structure comprises a cylindrical or disk type permanent magnet having an axial aperture and having end surfaces which are oppositely polarized. It has been discovered that such a permanentmagnet produces a magnetic field in space, in the vicinity of the aperture, which reverses direction at some distance from the surface of the aperture cylinder. The location of the field reversal is dependent on the properties of the permanent magnetic material and the disk geometry. This phenomenon is used in implementing this invention by effectuating a relative displacement of the permanent magnet and its associated sensor device to cause the sensor to be subjected to the field reversal as well as the change in the field intensity. The aperture may be provided with a core of soft magnetic material to increase the field intensity while maintaining the field reversal properties of the apertured magnet. For use in key mechanisms in which the magnitude of the relative displacement is severely constrained this invention further provides for the use of a keeper of soft magnetic material in combination with the disk type permanent magnet. The keeper in its preferred form comprises a disk with a pin extending from one surface of the keeper disk. The keeper is assembled to the disk magnet so that the keeper disk bears against one surface of the magnet and the keeper pin is within the aperture of the magnet. In accordance with this invention thepin terminates in a flat surface which is substantially co-planar with the end surface of the permanent magnet proximate the sensor. Also, the pin is sized such that it is substantially force fitted into the axial aperture. With this specific arrangement it was found that the localized magnetic field intensity decays very rapidly in a short distance in the region proximate the surface of the magnet. At the same time the magnetic field reversal will occur within the relatively short distance from the surface of the magnet. Thus, key mechanisms having this structure can provide rapid switching of a sensor device and its associated circuit with a relatively short displacement of the operating parts. Furthermore, with this structure, the activating magnets can be located on one side of the Hall element thereby permitting solid state sensors such as Hall effect cells to be readily integrated with planar circuit technology. With such technology contactless switches for use in devices such as keyboard mechanism can be manufactured at a relatively low cost since special packaging for the vertically-mounted Hall effect switches will not be required.

The foregoing and other objects, features and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following more particular description of preferred embodiments of the invention, as illustrated in the accompanying drawing.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is an elevational view of a key mechanism with portions in cross-section illustrating the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a vertical section of a first embodiment of an activator magnetic circuit used in the key mechanism of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a bottom view of the magnetic circuit of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a second embodiment of a magnetic circuit for use in practicing this invention;

FIG. 5 is a bottom view of the magnetic circuit of FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is a profile chart showing magnetic field characteristics of an apertured magnetic disc at normalized altitudes above the surface of the magnet within the aperture area relative to the diameter of the aperture; and

FIG. 7 is a graph showing magnetic field strength relative to distance for various permanent magnet structures including the embodiments illustrated in FIGS. 2

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Referring to FIG. 1, the invention is shown as part of a key mechanism 10 mounted on a printed circuit board 11. The key mechanism basically comprises an external housing 12 of non-magnetic material fixably attached to the board 11 and an internal operating mechanism operable manually through pressure applied to a key button 13. The key mechanism further includes a reciprocating plunger which consists of shaft 14 having upperand lower bearing portions 15 and 16, respectively, with a permanent magnet 17 sandwiched therebetween for movement therewith. A tubular per manent magne't l8 is mounted external to the upper portion of housing 12 so as to surround permanent magnet 17. Magnets 17 and 18 are polarized in a parallel direction with opposite polarities such that they serve to apply a unidirectional biasing force to the plunger assembly operating in an upward direction. The operating mechanism further comprises an actuator permanent magnet 19 attached to the bottom surface of bearing portion 16. A second actuator magnet 20, which is a ring type permanent magnet, is attached to the upper end of an operating cup member 21, which is reciprocably slidable in chamber 22 in the bottom portion of the housing 12. Permanent magnets 19 and 20 are co-axial magnets magnetized in parallel in the same polar direction. These magnets function upon relative displacement causing cup 21 to reciprocate within chamber 22 with a snap action when the plunger assembly reciprocated. Further details of the operation of the key mechanism may be more fully understood by reference to the co-pending application of A. W. Vinal, Ser. No. 263,831, filed June 19, 1972, now US. Pat. No. 3,815,066, issued June 4, 1974.

In a recess in the bottom of the cup 21 is mounted a magnetic switch circuit 23, which in accordance with this invention, is designed to perform a switching operation on a solid state device 24 located within a recess 25 formed in the bottom portion of cup 21. A solid state device 24 which preferably includes a Hall effect cell is part of an integrated circuit which is designed to generate a signal upon the displacement of the magnet switch circuit 23 relative to the surface of the Hall effect cell. While various Hall effect cells would be suitable for use in connection with this invention, a preferred cell would be one which is integratable in silicon technology with an amplifier circuit. A suitable cell would have a sensitivity level of at least 5 mv/kilogauss/volt.

As seen in FIG. 2, a preferred embodiment of amagnetic switch circuit comprises a cylindrical disk permanent magnet 26 and a keeper 27 of soft magnetic material. Permanent magnet 26 has an axial aperture 28 which is cylindrical. Keeper 27 comprises a disk portion 29 and an integral cylindrical pin or core portion 30. Disk portion 29 bears on one end surface of the permanent magnet 26 and is preferably of the same diameter so that the entire surface is covered by the disk portion 29. Core portion 30 has a diameter such that the peripheral surface of the core portion 30 bears against the interior surface of axial aperture 28. It has been found that a very high intensity localized magnetic field can be produced below the magnetic switch circuit 23 along the axis of the core portion 30 of the keeper 27 when the surface 31 of core portion 30 is substantially co-planar with the end surface 32 of permanent magnet 26. It is an essential feature of this invention that surface 31 of core portion 30 and surface 32 of permanent magnet 26 be very precisely coplanar. Small deviations, as much as 25 mils either side of the surface 32 would cause severe degradation in the intensity of the magnetic field at very close distances from the surface 31. Such degradation would effectively destroy the magnetic field intensity qualities of the magnetic switching circuit for use with switching planar type semiconductor Hall effect devices.

A specific magnetic switch circuit shown in FIGS. 2 and 3 comprises the following.

. Permanent magnet 26 was formed from type l-H Plastiform magnetic material having a thickness of mils, a diameter of 330 mils with a central apertur having a diameter equal to 50 mils.

Keeper 27 is formed using a magnetic material having a low coercive force and a high saturation magnetization level.

With this type of structure a magnetic field strength of 1,000 Oersteds at a distance of 20 mils from the central axis core 30 was provided. A keeper mechanism having a core portion 30 of greater diameter would tend to reduce the intensity of the magnetic field proximate surface 31. Thus, with this structure it would be preferable to have the keeper 27 with a core portion diameter as small as possible.

In a second preferred embodiment of FIGS. 4 and 5 the magnetic switch circuit 33 comprises a cylindrical disk permanent magnet 34 with an axial aperture 35. In this embodiment the axial aperture 35 is occupied by a solid cylindrical disk permanent magnet 36. The end surfaces of permanent magnets 36 and 34 are substantially co-planar. The upper end surfaces of the permanent magnets 36 and 34 have a keeper disk 37 of soft magnetic material. Permanent magnets 34 and 36 are magnetized in parallel but with opposite polarities. With this configuration the localized magnetic field emanating from the bottom surface of the magnetic switch circuit 33 is much greater in area. The magnetic intensity, however, is somewhat reduced compared to the embodiment of FIG. 2, which has a keeper core portion 30 of very greatly reduced diameter. However, the embodiment of FIGS. 4 and 5 would be used in a key mechanism in which the displacement of the magnetic circuit relative to the magnetic sensor is not space limited and where registration of the switching magnetic field relative to the magnetic sensor might be a problem.

The operation of this invention for both embodiments of FIGS. 2, 3 and 4, 5, is based on a permanent magnet with a central aperture parallel to the direction of magnetization. One of the significant features of this invention is based on the fact that the field outside of an apertured disk reverses direction at some predetermined distance above the aperture. The point of field magnitude of change in field intensity is greatly amplified in the vicinity of the flat surface 31 of pin 30.

This is illustrated further in FIG. 7, which shows the field intensity levels as a function of axial displacement for various magnetic switch circuits. As seen in FIG. 7, curve 46 represents the field intensity-displacement relationship for a cylindrical disk magnet 330 mils in diameter without an aperture. Curve 47 shows the field intensity-displacement for switch circuit 33 of FIGS. 4 and 5. Curves 4850 show intensity-displacement characteristic curves for various switch circuits 23 of FIGS. 2 and 3.

As seen in FIG. 7, in a non-apertured disk magnet a large field intensity change can occur only where a relreversal and the rate of change in field amplitude has atively large displacement takes Place Thus. Such been determined to be a function of the aspect ratio nets would have application in y of relatively Slow factor K5 =T/L for the magnet where Tis the thickness Speed and large plunger displacements- An apertured of the apertured magnet disk and L is the diameter in disk magnet with a COncentrlc mdgnet disk Produces a the case of a cylindrical disk. It has been further deterfield reversal which is relatively easily sensed. An apermined that the best field reversal properties are found tured disk magnet with pin core provides a very rapid to exist with apertured disks where the aspect ratio facfield intensity change over a small displacement and tor K5 is greater than 2.0. This field reversal position also provides a field reversal. Thus, key mechanisms for of this invention can best be seen by reference to FIG. magnetic sensor operation such as Hall effect devices 6. can be made in accordance with this invention which In FIG. 6 the ordinate of the graph represents norhave very small displacement requirements thereby malized field intensity while the abscissa represents dismaking increasingly high speed operation and low protance across the aperture of a permanent magnet disc file design possible. Specific details of magnet circuits having end surfaces oppositely polarized. The 0 coordifor curves 48-50 are illustrated in the following table:

Curve Outside Aperture Thickness Material Diam. 28 Diam. Keeper Magnet Magnet 26 Magnet Magnet Disk 26 26 26 29 48 500 mils 50 mils 25 mils 90 mils Plastiform l-H 49 330 mils 50 mils 25 mils 90 mils Plastiform l-H 50 250 mils 50 mils 25 mils 90 mils Plastiform l-H nate of the abscissa represents the longitudinal axis of While the invention has been particularly shown and the aperture whereas the ordinate line and the vertical described with reference to preferred embodiments line represent the extremities of the aperture. FIG. 6 thereof, it will be understood by those skilled in the art represents the field profile for a permanent magnet that the foregoing and other changes in form and dehaving the following properties. tails may be made therein without departing from the Parameter K5 1.8 and the outside diameter of the Sp ri nd scope of the invention. ring magnet is twice that of the inside diameter. e Claim:

The apertured disk consists of a material like Plas- In an ect ic pushbutton Switch, a key mechanism tiform l-H with a saturation magnetization of at least mp ng, 2,000 Oersteds and a coercive force in excess of 2,500 a first member, O stedS a second member movable relative to said first mem- As seen in Flg. 6, curve 40 shows that at a vertical her between first and Second Switch Positions, distance of 0.6D inches from a surface of an apertured a Hall element mounted on a d first member and disk magnet with aperture diameter D, the field having a Sensing Surface, strength across the aperture decreases slightly to a low Said Hall element being Operable for detecting point at the center of the aperture. As seen in FIG. 6, Changes in the ection of magnetic field for prothe field intensity change at the center of the aperture ducing a Switching Signal, is greatly increased at distances progressively closer to and a Switching magnet mounted 011 said Second the surface of th agnet curves 41 d 42), At member for relative movement therewith between some critical distance, for example, 0.1D inch, as Said firSt and Second Switch Positions, shown by curve 43, the polarity of the field reverses, Said tching magnet comprising a cylindrical perand as the distance from the magnet surface is further manellt magnet having Parallel faces of pp decreased (see curves 44 and 45) the intensity range p y. d di i increases idl said permanent magnet having one of said faces prox- Thus. in accordance with this invention, the displaceimam Said n g ce of Said Hall element and ment of a magnetic switch element with axial aperture movable transversely hereto during relative moveover a relatively short distance relative to a magnetic Of said Second embe from Said first to said sensor, produces relatively large field changes as well as a change in direction. Where the keeper structure of FIGS. 2 and 3 is used, the rate of decay as well as the second switch positions,

said permanent magnet having a cylindrical aperture connecting said parallel faces and parallel with the axis of magnetization thereof,

said aperture having an axis perpendicular with said sensing surface of said Hall element and parallel with the direction of relative motion of said first and second members between said first and second switch positions,

said aperture producing a concentrated magmetic field with a field reversal region extending beyond said face of said magnet in the vicinity of said sensing surface,

said field reversal region of said magnetic field being located within the distance of relative movement between said first and second switch positions,

whereby said Hall element is subjected to a reversing magnetic field to produce said switching signal during said relative movement between said first and second switch positions.

2. In an electric pushbutton switch, a key mechanism in accordance with claim 1 in which said switching magnet further includes a keeper of soft magnetic material having a disk-like portion bearing against the parallel face of said permanent magnet remote from said Hall element and a cylindrical core portion extending through said cylindrical aperture of said permanent magnet said core portion terminating in a surface substantially co-planar with said face of said permanent magnet proximate said sensing surface of said Hall element. 

1. In an electric pushbutton switch, a key mechanism comprising, a first member, a second member movable relative to said first member between first and second switch positions, a Hall element mounted on said first member and having a sensing surface, said Hall element being operable for detecting changes in the direction of magnetic field for producing a switching signal, and a switching magnet mounted on said second member for relative movement therewith between said first and second switch positions, said switching magnet comprising a cylindrical permanent magnet having parallel faces of opposite polarity, said permanent magnet having one of said faces proximate said sensing surface of said Hall element and movable transversely thereto during relative movement of said second member from said first to said second switch positions, said permanent magnet having a cylindrical aperture connecting said parallel faces and parallel with the axis of magnetization thereof, said aperture having an axis perpendicular with said sensing surface of said Hall element and parallel with the direction of relative motion of said first and second members between said first and second switch positions, said aperture producing a concentrated magmetic field with a field reversal region extending beyond said face of said magnet in the vicinity of said sensing surface, said field reversal region of said magnetic field being located within the distance of relative movement between said first and second switch positions, whereby said Hall element is subjected to a reversing magnetic field to produce said switching signal during said relative movement between said first and second switch positions.
 2. In an electric pushbutton switch, a key mechanism in accordance with claim 1 in which said switching magnet further includes a keeper of soft magnetic material having a disk-like portion bearing against the parallel face of said permanent magnet remote from said Hall element and a cylindrical core portion extending through said cylindrical aperture of said permanent magnet said core portion terminating in a surface substantially co-planar with said face of said permanent magnet proximate said sensing surface of said Hall element. 